Rodriguésia 66(2): A1-A66. 2015 http://rodriguesia.jbrj.gov.br DOI: 10.1590/2175-7860201566228 An overview and abstracts of the First World Congress on Bromeliaceae Evolution Ana Maria Benko-Iseppon, Marccus Alves & Rafael Louzada Abstracts of the Conferences, Symposia, Oral Presentations and Poster Presentations performed during the 1st World Congress on Bromeliaceae Evolution, March 2015 (Brazil): Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzyme activities in leaves of Guzmania monostachia plants under water deficit Abreu, Maria Elizabeth1; Carvalho, Victória2 & Mercier, Helenice1 CAM plants have the capacity to deal with highly changing environments due to the flexibility of reversible morphological and physiological adaptations to multiple stresses. However, little is known about the signalling pathway of ROS in plants with CAM metabolism, other than the knowledge that ROS production is limited in CAM plants. In the present study, we assessed the effects of drought stress on reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzyme activities in leaf portions of Guzmania monostachia. The exposure of G. monostachia plants to 10 days of water deficit led to a decrease in the leaf relative water content (RWC) from 75% to 50% in all leaf portions (apical, middle and basal); hence, it was concluded that plants subjected to drought produced higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when compared with control plants. Significant variations to the formation of ROS were also identified in all leaf portions during the diurnal cycle. After ten days of CAM induction, H2O2 concentration increased significantly in contrast to control plants during the day-night cycle. In addition, the activity of antioxidant enzymes in processes related to the elimination of ROS was also evaluated. The analysis showed that the middle and basal portions of the leaves increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) at 12pm when subjected to water deficit, while in the apical portion, this enzyme was most active at 8am in the control plants. Moreover, the plants with the water supply suspension showed greater activity of catalase (CAT) at 8am when compared to control plants, which also showed an increase in CAT activity at 8pm in the basal portion. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was most active in the middle portion of plants under drought. Meanwhile, as a general tendency, a higher activity of an- tioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and APX) was observed in the middle portion of the leaves of G. monostachia that were subject to ten days of water deficit. Funding: FAPESP. Key words: Reactive Oxygen Species; Antioxidant Enzymes; CAM Metabolism. _____________________________________________ 1 University of São Paulo, Brazil; 2 Institute of Botany, São Paulo, Brazil. Chemical and pharmacological properties of Bromeliaceae species from the Caatinga biome Almeida, Jackson1 The Bromeliaceae family is predominantly Neotropical. The phytochemistry of this family is characterized by the presence of flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, diterpenes, cinnamic acid derivatives, lignans, alkaloids, among others. The purpose of this lecture is to present results of research carried out at the Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco with the species Bromelia laciniosa, Encholirium spectabile and Neoglaz- iovia variegata, typical species from the Caatinga biome (semi-arid region of Brazil). Bromelia laciniosa is a species which is known in the Northeast region of Brazil as “macambira” and is used in the alimentation of man and domestic animals, especially in times of drought. The main therapeutic indications are for treating child colic, diarrhea, fever, jaundice, dandruff and hepatitis. The decoction of the roots is also popularly used against hepatitis and intestinal disorders and as a diuretic, while the dried and powdered leaves are used in A2 Benko-Iseppon, A.M.; Alves, M. & Louzada, R. cooking as a source of protein. A study conducted by our research group showed that the ethanol extract of this species (Bl-EtOH) has antinociceptive activity. The ethanol leaf extract apparently presents no significant toxicity. A flavonoid was isolated from this species that is derived from quercetin. Encholirium spectabile is locally known as “macambira-de-flecha” and “macambira-de-pedra”. The crude ethanol extract (Es-EtOH) of this species has antinociceptive activity, probably of peripheral origin. The mechanism involved is not completely understood but at least in part there is the participation of opioid receptors. Es-EtOH has gastro- protective activity against gastric mucosal damage induced by ethanol, HCl/ethanol, ibuprofen, ischemia and reperfusion, which suggests that the extract may activate cytoprotective mechanisms that increase the release of prostaglandins, increase the concentration of NPSH groups, increase catalase activity and activate the NOS pathway. E. spectabile contain phenolic compounds which can serve as natural sources of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. Dried extracts of E. spectabile present antioxidant and photoprotective activities in vitro. This shows the possibility to use this extract as sunscreen in pharmaceutical preparations. Neoglaziovia variegata is popularly known as “caroá”. The acute toxicity of crude ethanol extract of N. variegata (Nv-EtOH) was evaluated. The extract can be considered of low toxicity. Nv-EtOH also possesses an antinociceptive effect, which probably is related with a central mechanism. It was demonstrated that the extracts from this plant contain high contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids which could be responsible for their anti- bacterial, antioxidant and photoprotective activities. We have established a promising gastroprotective effect of Nv-EtOH and provided evidence for the involvement of NO, PG, mucus, sulfhydryl groups, catalase, and KATP channels, factors that play an important role in gastric cytoprotection. Pharmacological and chemical studies are continuing in order to characterize the mechanism responsible for these effects. Funding: CNPq, FACEPE. Key words: Bromelia laciniosa; Encholirium spectabile; Neoglaziovia variegata. _________________________________ 1 Universidade do Vale do Rio São Francisco, Brazil. Floristic and phenology of Bromeliaceae in the Ecological Reserve Guapiaçu, RJ: preliminary results Almeida, Mariana1; Lima, Heloísa Alves de1 & Costa, Andrea1 The Atlantic Forest is the second largest forest formation in Brazil, covering originally about 12% of the East Coast. Formed by overlapping ecossystems, it is one of the richest formations in terms of flora, and it is characterized by the large number of endemic species. Moreover, it is one of the main centers of diversity of the Bromeliaceae family, comprising about 30 genera and nearly a thousand species. This work is being developed in an area adjacent to the mountain region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, located in the coastal lowlands, in the city of Cachoeiras de Macacu. The Ecological Reserve Guapiaçu (REGUA), is a private conservation area, with altitudes of up to 2,000m, near the State Park of Três Picos, and is part of the Central Fluminense Mosaic, one of the mostly well-preserved rainforest mosaics in the state, comprising the National Park of Serra dos Órgãos, which is considered an important place for ecological and genetic interactions. It is believed that the local Bromeliaceae flora may indicate similarities and possible differences in relation to adjacent areas due to geographical distances and altitude. To carry out the floristic survey, a map of the trails was made, and the samples were taken by the traversal method, where every 100m was sampled to the left, and to the right, in order to increase the collection area. The trails sampled have different successional stages and cover an altitudinal gradient between 0–1,000m. Phenology was accompanied by observing the phenofases (bud, flowering, fruiting) present at the time of each collection. So far there are over 100 collections in 11 trails, with monthly visits to the locality. A total of 11 genera and 31 species have been recorded. It has been observed that the occurrence of some species is limited to certain altitudes. Concerning phenology, most of the recorded species display a well-defined flowering period, over a short time period and relatively synchronous. Key words: Floristics; Phenology; Atlantic Forest. _________________________________________ 1 Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional, Brazil. Rodriguésia 66(2): A1-A66. 2015 Abstract of the 1st BromEvo A3 Nomenclatural correction in Cryptanthus Otto & A. Dietrich. (Bromeliaceae - Bromelioideae) Alves, Marccus1 & Marcucci, Rosella2 Cryptanthus is a genus endemic to eastern Brazil from Rio Grande do Norte to Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. After a long search at libraries and European herbaria, a correction is presented to the author designation of a species as well as some input about synonymy and morphological variation. Cryptanthus zonatus (Vis.) Beer has been cited by several authors but there is a mistake that has been copied for years. Roberto de Visiani, botanist and director of the Botanical Garden of Padua (Italy) from 1837–1878, published in 1847 on the last page of a index of plants from the institution a monospecific genus called Pholidophyllum Vis. Under this new genus, he provided a short description of P. zonatum Vis. and P. zonatum ß fuscum Vis. For both taxa, Roberto de Visiani also indicated as synonyms two names which had never been published but were used for cultivated specimens